Foot and leg rest



April 28, 1.942. G. R. SMITH FOOT AND LEG`REST 2 sheets-shed 1 Filed Jan. 29, 1940 www Grimme@ April 28, 1942- G. R. sMrrH A 2,281,119

FOOT AND LEG REST Fi1ed"Jan- 29, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patente-d Apr. 28, 1942 N UNITED .Y STATE i FOT AND LEGREST :Glenn R' Smith Santa Barbara, Calif., assigner` of one-half to Nellie R. Smith, Santa Barbara,`

Calif.

Application January 29, 1940, serial No. 316,193

14 Claims. (i. 1554,-169) l This invention relates to furniture and'more particularly to a foot and leg rest, it being one objectrof the invention to provide a device of this f character of such construction that a persons feet and legs may be` comfortably supported thereon.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a foot and leg rest wherein the leg and foot supporting `portion is pivoted to a` base in such a manner that after a persons legs and feet are rested on the support, it may be easily tilted to an angle which will eliminate leg strain, it being obvious that if a person is sitting in a rocking chair the foot supporting portion may have rocking movement imparted to it as the chair is rocked and thus maintainthe desired. angular relation to the chair and continue to 'comfort-y ably support the legs and feet of the person.

Another object of the invention is to so mount the leg and foot supporting member that while it may be tilted angularly to adjusted positions,`

sulicient frictional binding will exist to prevent undesired tilting and thus allow the supporting member to be held in an angularly adjusted posi-` tion without uncomfortable strain on a persons Another object of the invention is to so form the base of the device thatl a brace extending transversely between side `members of said base the like may be placed.

Another object of the invention is to provide the leg supporting member or platform with a covering so mounted that while it will be firmly held in place and lie at on the platform, it may beeasily detached when cleaning or replacement thereof is necessary.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the improved leg and foot rest showing the platform or leg support in tiltedposition.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the platform may also serve as a shelf upon which books and` 30T* Fig. 8 is a` side elevation showing the foot` and legsupport formed of tubing. 1

Fig. 9` is a top plangview thereof.

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional' view taken on une une io-m of Fig. a.

Fig. 11 `is a fragmentary sectional View on an enlarged scale, taken vertically through one side of the support along the line `l i--l1l of Fig. 8.

The improved legand foot rest has al base indifcated in general bythe numeral and a platform 2 which is pvotally mounted over the base and tiltable from the horizontal positionof Fig. 2 to an inclined position, as shown in Fig. 1, it being understood that the platform may be disposed at any desired angle between the horizontal position and the inclined position of Figi.

The base I has side members or vertical uprights 3 which, in the forms shown through Figs. 1 to 7, are preferably formed of wood of suitable thickness, butmay` be formed ofmetal or any other suitable material. These upright supports have Vlower portions formed with downwardly diverging legs d having fiat edge faces 5 at their lower ends for restingat upon a floor. Rear f. edges 6 of the upright side members 3 are con cavely Varcuate and their forward edge faces fl extend downwardly at a forward incline to providesloping abutments serving a purpose to be hereinafter set forth..- A panel 8, which may also be formed of wood, extends transversely between the side members with its ends seated in channels .or grooves .8' formed in inner side faces of the side `members. This `panel constitutes a transverse brace for4 the base and, in addition,

1 serves as `ashelf upon which books, magazines or other articles may be placed when not in use. An upstanding strip 9 extends along the front edge of the panelf8 and serves as a guard rail to prevent articles from slipping off the front of the gpanel. ,1t will thus be,y seen that the base is so formed that itis very strong and not liable to become distorted andelements forming the same are not liable to work loose. i p

' The platform V2, which may be of wood, metal or other suitable'material, has side barsl Ill between rear ends of which extends a thick end bar Il. This endv bar constitutes a hand grip by means'of which the device may be easily lifted and carried from place to place and, since the outer surface of the cross bar is rounded, as shown in Figs`.*3 and 7, and its under face l2 is flat and extends diagonally, the end bar may be rmly grasped without sharp corners cutting into apersons hand. Forward portions of the sdebars lll extend upwardly at a forward in ly bowed, and inner side faces of these side bars are formed with grooves or channels I6 which are similarly curved longitudinally and receive side' edge portions of a flooring sheet orpanel IL This panel I'l has its rear end'e'IIgaged inl-a channel or groove I 8 formed in the end bar II and its front end seated in a transversely extending groove or channelV I9 formedin the lfoot-board I4. It will thus be seen that the panel" I'I` is firmly mounted `in the frame of the platform. Grooves 20-are formed across the upper: face of the panel I I in such`Y spaced-` rela'tiongto each other longitudinally: thereof? that"l thepa'n'el y may be' easily bowed"4 longitudinally when? applied'- to the frame. A sheet 2l isprvided as al covering for? the platform andl consists offal strliplof'carpet 22 andi a backing 23 formed of felt' or: the" like which has directcontact with thefpanelll'. Snap fastener sockets 2'4 are secured-.through the sheet 2|v at rear corners thereof and companion` studs 25`are mounted atI rear corners of the panel4 I'I for engagementby the sockets in `ordertosecurelyv but detachably hold the sheetin place.- Since thelshe'et' is only' secured at its rear end and is free to move at its front end, it mayhave suf.- cient movement on the panel to cause itv to-at all times restfiat on the panel'Y and provide a smoothsurface for a p'ersoris` legs` to" rest upon.

Ifv desired, a cushion` mlay'- be I substituted for the car-'pet or-v upholstering i applied to the panel.-

In order to mount the` platform `for tilting movement from the horizontalfpositionoffFig. 2, to an inclinedr position such as vshown in Fig; 1,

there have been provided'4 hinge plates 2G'secur`ed: against inner side faces of' the side barsA I 0f by screwsy 21. kThese' plates projectdownwardly1 from the' side bars and taper toward their lower" ends, openings being formed' adjacent their lower endsY toreceive bolts 28which pass through the side members of' the basel and' constitute pivots 'for the hinge plates. The bolts also pass throughbrackets 2S which extend transversely 'of upper ends ofthe side walls 3 of the base I` andy are secured by screws 30. The metal strips from which the brackets are formed are yieldable so that` binding action may take place whenthe wing nuts 3l of the bolts` are-tightened and, in order thata good binding' action may take place when the nuts are tightened, there have been providedfwashers 32- and 33, the washers'BZ,l being disposedbetween the hinge plates and the brackets and the washers .33- beingv located.A between the brackets and/thefwingnuts.V The-bolts are,r sor located'. with respect' to the" rounded forward corners` 34: of upper ends off the sideele ments or members 3A and the upper edges'4 andfrontf edgesv of" they side membersfare in; suchangular relation to each other that when the,A

platform .isy swungfabout the bolts` it mayirest fiat uponx theY upper edge faces of the side mern-l bers 3 or be disposed at an incline parallel; to

the front edge faces ofy these side members. Cushioning; but-tons- 35y are applied, to.4 the l front edgey faces of theside members-to kengage the` these two positions.

` ency to normally assumethe horizontal'` positionv shown in full lines in Fig. 8, but permit tilting side bars I0 when the platform is in forwardly y tilted position.

When this foot and leg rest is in use, it is set upon the oor in front of a chair and a person occupying the chair will rest his legs upon the platform with his feet in engagement with the foot board I4. The platform may be disposed horizontally, as shown in Fig. 2,. or, it may be tilted forwardly to an -Jinclinedf posi-tion such as shown in Fig. 1, or atv any desired angle between By properly adjusting the nuts 3l, frictional binding may be exerted to rmlyl hold the platform in adjusted position, or the nuts may be so adjusted that while the platformrfwilllh'ave"atendency to remain in a set position, it may?` easily be tilted about the bolts during rocking movement of a chair. The platforrnuwill'` thus accommodate itself to movements of aperson-s legs and be at a comfortable angle.

In Figs. 8' through 11, there has been illustrated a`y modified construction wherein thez base and platformor deck are formed ofitubing Thetubingffrom: which`v the hase-is :formed has.: its intermediate-:portionbentgto'forma `rea-r cross bar 36 and? side 2' barst` 31; end portion-s of; theV tubing bef ing then bent to form uprights or side members 38" which extendj upwardly at afrearward inoline, as shownzinzFig. 8; and terminatel in rearwardly-f extendingv arms; 39; the uprights;l 3,8v taking,` the place or the' forwardv edgeportions oi.V the uprights-3= and the arms 3'9y takingf the'place of the upper; ends of theA uprights 3:

The frame,4 ofA a platform or deck 405 is also formed of tubing and comprises side barsfI'l-andv arear cross? barL Ilv which may be connected at its ends tothe side lbarsv-Z by elbows 43 or by bending a tube= of the', proper length to-form.,the cross bar andthe side4 bars; Itwill. beunderfstood thatthe basel may also, have itsrean bar and its lside bars formed' of separatel tube sections connected by elbows. The forward portions of the-side bars-422 arebent to form arms 44v extending upwardly/*at a` forward incline and corresponding to` theY arms- I3 of the platform I Thesetubular arms44'arevb'ent slightly atV their front ends and closed by ornamental knobs 45 held inl place by. their shanks 46 which fit tightly intothe arms, asrshownin Fig. 9. An upholstered bod-y; 4T of the platform or deck llfA is shownin Figs. 8 and 10 as .restingy loosely uponV the` sidel bars 42 and cross bar 4I and prevented from lateralor rearward displacement with respectto these-frame elements by shaping its edges to provide a cross-sectional. quarter-round` contour y' adapting the body 41. to seat upon and engage Ythe frame elements. The upholsteredbody has its forward portion extending between the arms 44 to` provide a foot board and prevent. forward longitudinal displacement of the platform body. If desired, the body 4l may, be` secured tothe bar 4I and bars 42 in any suitable manner.

The deck or vplatform 40" is to be pivotally mounted and, in order to accomplishY this, there l have been provided hinge plates "58` which are Y of triangular shape and rm'ly secured at their upper ends to outer sides of the b ars 42. by. rivets i9 and have their lower ends pivoted to the uprights-of the base by pins 50. 'Ihehinge` plates 48have been shown closer toV ther front end of the deck than they are tothe rear endthereof to cause the deck or platform to have a tendmovement to the inclined positionindicated by dotted1 lines in this figure.` Wheny thel deck or platform is in the horizontal position, its side bars 42 rest on thearms 39 of the side members of the base and when it is tilted, its tilting movement is limited by engagement with the uprights 38` of the base. It will also be obvious that the hinge plates may be secured against inner side portions of the side bars 42 instead of against outer side portions thereof, in which case their lower ends will be pivoted to` inner side portions of the uprights of the base.`

It is to be understood that the base and the upright are not limited to the tubular or wooden construction specifically illustrated and described, as other materials may be used. It is also to be understood that selected types of upholstery may be employed or other forms of pads substituted in place of the carpet 22 and the backing 23, the upholstery or padding being entirely omitted if so desired and the legs and feet resting directly on the platform or upon a cushion placed thereon by the person using the device.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed'is:

1. In a foot and leg rest: a base having side membersand a bracing member extending between the side members and constituting a shelf; a `platform having a leg supporting portion and a foot supporting member at the front end thereof and extending at an angle thereto, the said side members having upper surfaces to support the platform in horizontal position over the base and having front surfaces for supporting the platform in a relatively steeply downwardly inclined position; hinge members carried by said platform, said hinge members being disposed at opposite sides of said platform and intermediate its ends and being pivoted to the side members of said base on an axis adjacent said upper surfaces to mount the platform for tilting movement from a horizontal position over the base at rest upon said upper surfaces of said side members to a downwardly inclined position in front of the base at rest against the front surfaces of said side members of said base; and

forward and rearward floor engaging means on said base disposed to prevent overbalancing of said base forwardly and backwardly respectively by the weight of a user sustained by said platform.

2. In a foot and leg rest: a base having upright side members and a shelf mounted between the side members to brace the same and provided with an upstanding ledge along its front edge; a platform, the said side members having upper surfaces to support the platform in horizontal position over the base and front surfaces for supporting the platform in a relatively steeply downwardly inclined position; hinge members disposed at opposite sides of said Platform, intermediate its ends, said hinge members being pivoted to the side members of said base on an axis adjacent said upper surfaces and mounting the platform for tilting movement from a horizontal position over the base at rest upon said upper surfaces of said side members to a downwardly inclined position in front of the base at rest against said front surfaces of said side members of the base; and forward and rearward floor engaging means on said base disposed to prevent overbalaneing of said base forwardly and backwardly respectively by the weight of a user sustained by said platform.

3. In a foot and leg rest: a base having rigidly associated upright side members formed with upper surfaces and front surfaces extending downwardly therefrom at a relatively steep forward incline; a platform having side bars for resting upon said upper surfaces of said side members to dispose the platform `in horizontal position over the base; hinge members carried by said side bars, said hinge members being disposed intermediate the ends of said platform and pivoted to said side members on an axis adjacent said upper surfaces of saidside members to mount the platform for tilting movement from said horizontal position to a downwardly inclined position in front of the base in which said side bars are at rest in engagement with the inclined front ksurfaces of said side members to limit downward tilting of the platform; and forward and rearward floor engaging means on said base disposed to prevent overbalancing of said base forwardly and backwardly respectively by the weight of a user sustained by said platform.

4. In a foot and leg rest; a base comprising upright, rigidly associated side members formed with` upper surfaces and front surfaces extending downwardly therefrom at a relatively steep forward incline; a platform having side bars and a rear cross bar, forward portions of the side bars extending upwardly at an angle to the remaining portions of said side bars, a panel mounted between the rear portions of said side bars with its rear end terminating at the cross bar, and a foot board mounted between the upwardly extending forward portions of said side bars; hinge members carried by said side Ibars disposed intermediate the ends of said side bars and depending therefrom and pivoted to the side members of said base on an axis substantially in the plane of said upper surfaces of said base to mount the platform for tilting movement from a horizontal position dispsing the side bars of the platform at rest upon the upper surfaces of the side Vmembers of the base to a downwardly inclined position in front of the` base with the side bars of the platform abutting` and at rest .upon said front surfacesV of the side members of the base; and forward and rearward floor engagingy means on said base disposed to prevent overbalancing of said base forwardly or backwardly respectively by the `weight of a user sus..

-4 tained by said platform 5. In a foot and leg rest: a base having rigidly associated upright side members; a platform having side bars spaced fromeach other a distance adapting them to bear against edge faces of the side members; hinge plates secured against inner faces of the side bars and projecting downwardly therefrom against inner side faces of the side members;` brackets secured against inner side faces of the side members and overlapping lower portions of said hinge plates; bolts extending through the side members and the hinge plates and brackets and constituting hinge pins; washers upon said bolts at opposite sides of said brackets; and securing nuts threaded-upon said bolts and when tightened applying pressureto the brackets to flex the same toward the hinge plates and createfrictional binding for resisting tilting movement of the platform.

6. A foot and leg rest, comprising: a base having side bars and uprights extending upwardly from Jthe side bars and provided with horizontal arms at their upper ends; a platform; and hinge members carried by said platform and pivoted to said uprights and mounting the platform for tilting movement from a horizontal position at rest upon-.said armste. a tiltediposition infront-of the ing a rear.` cross bary and side .bars extendingY for-- wardlyftherefrom and bent lto form supports extendingupwardly at aV rearward incline from' the front ends; ofthe side'. bars: and terminating in rearwardly lextending arms-at their upper ends; a platform; hinge members-secured at opposite sidfesgof said platform-and extending downwardly therefrom; and pins pivotally connecting lower ends of said hinge members with said uprights at frontends of saidarms and serving to mount the platform for tiltingr movement from ahorizontal posi-tionrat rest upon said'arms to a tilted positionA against front portions of the uprights.

8. A foot and leg rest, comprising: a. base havingupright side members disposedzat a rearward incline and.k provided with. rearwardly extending arms aty their upper ends; a platform having a frame formed with.l a rear bar and side barsr extendingL forwardly therefrom and bentupwardly adjacent their frontends to form side bars for the foot;rest; and hinge^ plates secured against ie side .barsfof saidframe and extending downwardly. therefrom-withtheir lower ends pivoted tothe armsof saiduprights.

9( A foot.. and. leg rest, comprising: a base formed-of tubular material bent laterally to provide a rear cross bar andside barsextending for.- Y

wardly. therefrom and bent upwardly to form upright, rearwardly-inclined, side members terminating in rearwardly extending arms; a platform having. a frame formed of.` tubular material hat inga rear cross bar and side barsrextending forwardly therefrom andbent in spaced relation to their front ends to.. form. upwardlyA extending,

forwardly inclined; sidebars for. thefoot board of.

topI of said base; means'on said base4 for limiting.

the pivotal movement of said platform in a direction characterized by the downward movement ofthe rearv end thereof at a position in which said platform is substantially horizontal;

means on said base for limiting movementv of said platformin the opposite direction at a position' in which saidy platform is relatively steeply inclined'forwardly` and downwardly, whereby the forward end of said platformv in the' last mentionedv position is' at a level substantially lower than the levely of'said horizontal position; and forwardy and rearward oor engagingmeans on said basey disposed to prevent overbalancing of said baseforwardlyor" backwardly respectivelyy bythe weightof'a user-sustained by said platform;

11. A-foot and leg rest, comprising: a base havingr a: substantially horizontal supporting surface aaa-11,1111:

andv another. supportingy surface having relaf tively steeply. inclined portion extending `forwardlyI downward frointhefront end of said horizontal. surface; a foot and leg` supporting platformtransversely hinged. to said base intermediate the ends of said platform; and adjacent the front end of` said horizontal surface, and adapted to be supported in a horizontal position by said horizontal surface. and in an inclined position by said inclined surface; and* forward and rearward floor engaging means onsaidbase disposed to prevent.. overbalancing of said base forwardlyy or back-wardly respectively by the weight of a user sustainedby said platform.

12'. A footand legv rest, comprising: a base having a substantiallyy horizontal supporting surface and another supporting. surface having a relatively steeply inclined. portion extending forwardly downward from the front end of said horizontal surface; a foot and leg supporting platform transversely-- hinged to said base intermediate the ends of said platform and adjacent the front end of said horizontal surface, and adapted to be supported in a horizontal position by said horizontal surface and in an inclined positionby said inclined surface; friction means for inhibiting pivotal movement of said platform on said'base; and forward and rearward floor engaging means onsaid base disposed to prevent overbalancing of said base forwardly or backwardly respectively by the weight of a user sustained by saidfplatform.

l3. A foot and leg rest, comprising: a base; a foot and leg supporting-.platform transversely pivotally mounted on said baser on an axis rearwardly remote VVfrom thefrontf end of said platform; means on said base for supporting said platform in` a forwardly and downwardly relawith respect tothe ends of said platform thatV the center'of gravity of said-platform is'behind` said axis` when said platform is in horizontal position and forward of said axis when said platform is in inclinedposition; and forwardV and rearward oor: engaging means on said base disposed to prevent overbalancing of said base forwardly or backwardly respectively by the weight of a user sustained by said platform.

14. A foot and leg rest, comprising: a base; a foot and leg' supporting platform transversely pivotally mounted onsaid base and on an axis intermediate the ends of said platform; means on said base for supporting said platform in a forwardly and downwardly relatively steeply inclined extreme position; means for supporting said' platformen said base in a more nearly horizontal extremeposition; and forward and" rearwardoor engaging-means on said basedisposedto preventy overbalancing of said. base forwardly or backwardly respectively by the weight of a user sustained by saidplatform.

GLENN R. SMITH. 

